(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., 6/28/17) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today joined Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah in calling for the resignation Board of Education Member Emma Anderson because of an Islamophobic remark she made at a public meeting of that board.

While Mayor Khairullah had the floor in a Prospect Park Board of Education meeting on June 27, 2017, and was expressing his position on an issue, Anderson interrupted with the statement, "This is not Sharia law, this is an orderly session."

“Anyone who is capable of using such divisive terms against me is capable of using similarly hostile terms against others in the community,” said Mayor Khairullah, “Therefore, I am calling for the immediate resignation of Board Member Emma Anderson and ask that the County Superintendent of Schools and the New Jersey Department of Education investigate the matter fully and take appropriate action based on the results of that investigation.”

“Bigoted statements like those made by Ms. Anderson are extremely offensive and demonstrate a level of intolerance that should disqualify her from serving on any organization overseeing the education of children,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues. “We applaud Prospect Park Mayor Khairullah for his courage and leadership in taking a stand against bigotry.”

Sues noted that the hot-button term “sharia law” is increasingly being used by Islamophobes and their white supremacist and anti-government allies to target the American Muslim community.

The organization recently launched an app to share critical 'know your rights' information and simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. It is urging Muslims to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.